Genetic Engineering pros and cons

July 31, 2013 - Posted to Assignment Help

The process

Genetic engineering is a complex process whereby scientist separates a gene from a chromosome. This is done by using an enzyme called endonuclease that is used to split the gene that is required from the chromosome. This process can be used for various reasons like giving an animal immunity whereby scientists will find an organism that has an antiviral gene and implant it into an animal and that way their offspring’s will also carry that new gene.

Advantages

The pros of genetic engineering are numerous; in animals it enables hereditary diseases to be treated so as to avoid them passing to the off springs. Genetic engineering has also enabled scientists to make animals have certain desirable characteristics and also enabled them to remove certain characteristics creating better animals​

Disadvantages

The cons of genetic engineering in animals are that they disrupt nature which is not easy to understand. When scientist introduce these new genes to animals they may lead to disastrous consequences since they are never sure what they will form. The society has not fully accepted genetic engineering and most of them see it as an n insult to nature

Natural methods

There is also the natural method of genetic engineering which is not done in the lab. This whereby organism of the same species are taken based on characteristics and they are mate together. This may be done when certain characteristics are wanted in the off springs like taking an animal that has a tendency to grow larger and another that has an unusual immunity and making them to mate so that the offspring can have both characteristics.

Genetic Engineering in Agriculture

Genetic engineering is also used in agriculture with the aim of improving foods. Crops are being created whereby they are resistant to diseases and pests and also need less water to grow. These plants also tend to grow faster.

The advantages in agriculture are also numerous as farmers are able to harvest more crops that have nutrients. It has enabled crops to be made to even grow in harsh conditions and therefore farming can be done any part improving the economy of people. The crops are also engineered in a way that they are resistant to pests and diseases thereby reducing the cost of farming that include buying pesticides. There is also the advantage of eliminating those characteristics that are undesirable

Disadvantages of genetic engineering in agriculture

There are however also the cons of genetic engineering which in agriculture they are quite many. One is that the despite not buying pesticides more fertilizers will be required and also as the plants grow equipments that are needed to crop these plants have to be modified. Genetic engineering also ignores certain steps in like pollination thereby disrupting the ecosystem. There is also the danger of pollution. Farmers also fear that any gene that is used for herbicide resistance may spread to other crops and create more dangerous weed leading them to use more money in farming.

Benefits and risks of genetic engineering

Applications

Genetic engineering has also been applied in medicine where it has been used to try and cure diseases llike cancer. This is done by trying to replace those genes that are faulty with others that are working perfectly.

Pros of genetic engineering

It has tried to cure certain diseases and has lead to the elimination of faulty genes and replacing them with better ones. It also has been able to cure visual impairment.

Cons of genetic engineering

The gene therapy has a lot of dangers and has not been used widely. It can lead to other dangers in one’s life.

Genetic engineering and society

Most people in the society have been against genetic engineering claiming it is trying to change what is already there. This is because they have not seen the results that had been promised there before but scientists are not giving up because they continue advancing with technology.

Genetic engineering will be accepted if its benefits are more than its risks since nothing can be perfect.

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